Closure for musical instruments



March 10, 1931. Al D, TRE-NOR 1,795,355

CLOSURE FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS Filed Sept. 24, 1929 Patented Mar. 10, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT n OFFICE ALBERT D. TRENOR, OF GLOUCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO JOHN HAYS y HAMMOND, JR., OF GLOUCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS CLOSURE FOR MUSICAL TNSTRUMENTS Application filed September 24, 1829. Serial No. 394,754.

rhe invention relates to musical instruments and more particularly to a novel means at lifting; the closure of apiano.

The invention provides the lifting` of the 5 closure oit a piano while maintaining said closure in a horizontal position. This obviates the necessity ot disturbing such Objects as vases, pictures etc., which may be restingthereon.

'l'he invention provides supportingmeinbers upon which rest the closure and means are provided ilor translating said members in a vertical direction. In a concrete exemplititration of the invention a handle is provided with means .tor translating said supports in a vertical direction in response to the actuation ot' said handle.

The invention is described as applied to a piano but it is obvious that it may be equally applied to any instrument such a radio in which it may be. desirable to raise the cover thereof without disturbing the objects inn' thereon.

The invention also consists in certain new and oi` P final ,reatures ot construction and combinations ot parts hereinafter set forth and claimed;

Although. the novel features which are believed to be characteristic of this invention will be particularly pointed out in the claims appended hereto, the invention itself, as to its objects and advantages, the mode oi its oper tion and the manner of its organization n'lay be better understood by referring to the tollowing description taken in connection with the accomlianying drawings ilorn'iing a par( thereot', in which Fig. 1 is a iront elevation showing this system as applied to a grand piano;

ifig. Q is a bottom plan view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a section taken on line 3 3 of Fig. 2.

Like reference characters denote like parts in the several figures of the drawings.

In the following description and in the claims parts will be identified by specific names for convenience, but they are intended to be as generic in their application to simii" lar parts as the art will permit.

The system is shown as applied to a grand piano 10, which provided with the usual casingl 9 and pedal mechanism 11, and which is supported by three legs 12, 13 and 1st. The casing 9 is provided with a top closure 15,

lwhich supported by three supporting memsecured to the lower part of each member 21.

is a bevel gear 23, which meshes with bevel pinions 24, carried on three shafts 25, 2o and 27. The shafts 25 and 26 are mounted for rotation in bearings 28, and thc shatt- 27 passes through the leg); 14 in which it is suitably n'iountedfor rotation. To the end of the shaft Q7 is secured a handle 30.

In the operation in the form of invention shown in Figs. l, 2.and 3, when it is desired to litt the lid of the piano 15, the handle 30 is rotated in a clockwise direction as seen in Fig. l. This rotates the gear 23 ina clockwise direction, and by means of the pinions 24 and the shafts 25 and 26, rotates the other two gears 23 in counter-clockwise directions. This causes the members 21 associated with the shafts 18. 16'and 17 to be rotated in corresponding directions, which by means ot the threads cut on the rods 1S, 16 and 17 cause these rods to be elevated at an equal speed thus lifting thetop 15 at a uniform rate and keeping' it always in a horizontal position.

Vhen it is desired to lower the top, the handle 30 is rotated in a counter-clockwise direction thus reversing the motion of the parts described, and causing the top 15 to be lowered at a uniformi rate until it is resting upon the top of the piano 10.

In this Way a very simple and effective means is provided for translating` the closure 15 without disturbing the objects resting thereon.

While certain novel features of the invention have been shown and described and are pointed out in the annexed claims, it Will be i understood that various omissions, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and in its operation may be made by those skilled in the art With- 5 out departing from the spirit of the invention.

lVhat is claimed is:

1. In a piano, a casing forming a sound chamber, a variable closure and means for moving said closure for said chamber in subl stantially parallel planes for varying the eX- tent of opening of said chamber andrcontrolling the emission of sound therefrom.

2. In a. musical instrument, a easing forming a soun d chamber, a variable closure therefor and means for moving` said closure for varying the opening of said chamber and controlling the emission of sound therefromy while maintaining the same in a plane parallel to its closed position.

3. In a piano7 a easing forming a sound ehambe'r, a closure, supporting members for supporting said closure, and means for relatively elevating said supporting members in a vertical direction for varying the opening of said chamber and controlling the emission of sound therefrom.

Ll. In-a piano, a casing forming a sound Chamber, a Closure, supporting members for supporting said closure, a handle, and means for elevating said supporting member in a vertical direction in response to the aetuation of said handle whereby the opening` of said chamber is varied for controlling the emission of sound therefrom.

5. In a piano, a casing forming a sound chamber7 a closure, a supporting member for said closure said supporting member having' a portion thereof threaded, a threaded sleeve encircling said. threaded portion and means for rotating said sleeve whereby said member lwill be elevated aXi ally of said sleeve whereby the opening of said, chamber is varied for controlling the emission of sound therefrom.

6. In a piano, a casing forming` a sound ehan'iber, a closure, supporting members disposed in spaced relationship and adapted to support said elosure,said supporting member having a portion thereof threaded, a

threaded sleeve'encirclingsaid threaded portion, gears secured to said sleeves, a handle,

a driving gear secured to said handle and meshing with one of said gears and `means for rotating the threaded sleevesin response to the actuation of the handle whereby said supporting members are translated axially of said sleeves whereby the opening of said chamber is varied for Controlling the emission of sound therefrom.

In testimony whereofY I have hereunto set my hand.

ALBERT D. Tannen.' 'Y j Y 

